Author Archives: jlodom

And then what happened?

Honestly, I don’t know. Watch, wait, and work, I guess. One week out from publication and trying to hold this process with open hands. With self-publishing you kinda know going into that it’s going to be an uphill battle. You’ll have an initial surge from friends and family, but then when that tapers off youContinue reading “And then what happened?”

Publication Day! A Book about Exiles, Languages, and War

So today, as I post this, my book is now published! I’ll spare you the long saga–and it is quite long–of how this book came to be, how I wrote it, and all the hills and valleys between then and now. It’s a good story, actually, but not for today. Today, I’m just going toContinue reading “Publication Day! A Book about Exiles, Languages, and War”

The Je Ne Se Quois and what I DO know.

It is often easier to take note of the things I don’t like about a book than to understand what constituent elements come together to form something I do like. This is why people’s rants on goodreads are often longer than their raves. This is partly because good writing–good storytelling–is rather seamless. And since youContinue reading “The Je Ne Se Quois and what I DO know.”

To Persevere or not to Persevere? The Classics

I am going to stereotype two typical views on how you should read. I am going to formulate them at their extremes, so bear with me: Perspective A: It doesn’t matter how you feel about the book or whether you enjoy it at all, get over it and read all the great classics, or everythingContinue reading “To Persevere or not to Persevere? The Classics”

The Everlasting Trope: Redemption Arc

An established villain–with all the sinister character and crimes to prove it–begins the story in darkness, and ends it having inched towards the light. On the face of it, this trope really is that straightforward. And I might have thought that, of all tropes, it has the most universal appeal. But I have learned thatContinue reading “The Everlasting Trope: Redemption Arc”

The Thing About Tropes is…

They only tell you what a thing might be, not what it is. I simultaneously love thinking through tropes, but hate using them as a guide. I understand why people like to do trope lists for books–a bullet-point format of why you might enjoy a given novel–but we all know that this merely skims theContinue reading “The Thing About Tropes is…”

The Double-Edged Sword of Fantasy

I love the fantasy genre. I write in the fantasy genre. You have so much room–as either a reader or a writer–to breathe, to explore, to wonder and wander. To experience joy or grief or hope or conviction and walk away enchanted, thrilled, and sated. Whether you love cool magic systems, strange cultures, epic battles,Continue reading “The Double-Edged Sword of Fantasy”

Reviews are for Readers

Stating the obvious, I know, but as a recent newcomer to things like booktube and bookstagram, it turns out that it’s not as obvious as you would have thought! The way some reviewers feel the need to add 57 caveats and apologies to explain why they gave a book 3 stars. Why? WHY??? When didContinue reading “Reviews are for Readers”

Bit by Bit

We’re getting there. My book is now up for pre-order on Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/by-blood-by-salt-j-l-odom/1145031237?ean=9798990024403 And on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Salt-Land-Exile-Book-ebook/dp/B0CVV8BR37?ref_=ast_author_mpb [UPDATE: The goodreads discrepancies have been resolved! Wonderful!] And I’m having some issues with goodreads–it added a paperback edition that wasn’t available, and I associated my author goodreads page with that edition, and now goodreads hasContinue reading “Bit by Bit”